12th October 2010: Take Direct Action for Climate Justice

In 2009, indigenous peoples called for a global mobilisation ‘in defence of mother earth’ on October 12, reclaiming what used to be ‘Columbus Day’. In response, Climate Justice Action is coordinating a day of direct action for climate justice on October 12, 2010.

The day of action is about empowering communities to take back power over their own lives. It is about leaving fossil fuels in the ground and creating socialised renewable energy systems; it is about food sovereignty against the domination of, and destruction caused, by industrial agribusiness; it is about massively reducing working hours, and starting to live different lives; it is about reducing overproduction for overconsumption by elites in the North and the South. Climate justice is the struggle for a good life for us all.

Climate Justice Action invites all those who fight for social and ecological justice to organise direct actions targeting climate criminals and false solutions, or creating real alternatives. This is an open callout, CJA are not picking targets. It is time for us to reclaim our power, and take control of our lives and futures.
To highlight the global dimension of the actions, to afford networking and to support an overview for the movement and media work, the website http://www.climate-justice-action.org is being relaunched. The aim is to interconnect actions with an interactive map and serve as a platform for more information about the actions and groups sponsoring them.

How you can get involved:

For groups without experience in using direct action, this day of action may be a good chance to reach out to groups using these tactics, and look for ways in which you can support each other.

Good training and preparation for all participants is important before taking part in direct action. There are plenty of online guides which can help you prepare a good, safe, and effective direct action.

The direct action can be used to push for demands towards the EU Environment Council meeting on 14th October, or the European Council meeting on 28th October.

The direct action could be used to push for national climate legislation and other climate justice demands, in press work and public outreach before, during and after the event.

Friends of the Earth Europe gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the European Commission, European Climate Foundation and the Oak Foundation. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility

of Friends of the Earth Europe and cannot be regarded as reflecting the position of the funders mentioned above. The funders cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information that appears on this website.